By: Abiebatu Abu Mattia, Prevention Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Eastern Region office has engaged stakeholders and residents of Dama Chiefdom, Kenema District, on corruption prevention, integrity, and ethics. The meetings, held on 10th August 2025 in Pandebu and Baaka Dama, followed reports of abuse of power and mismanagement of the Diamond Area Community Development Fund (DACDF).
Addressing the gatherings, Regional Director, ACC East, Hawanatu Omotayo Kamara, said the engagements formed part of the Commission’s public education drive to empower citizens with knowledge on identifying, preventing, and reporting corruption. She urged community members to monitor local development projects to ensure value for money, stressing that whistleblowers are key allies in the fight against corruption, entitled to 10% of recovered proceeds and protected under the law.
In a separate session with the Paramount Chief, Chiefdom Speaker, section chiefs, and town chiefs, Madam Kamara highlighted provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as amended in 2019) that have strengthened the Commission’s mandate. She disclosed complaints relating to bribery, payments for free healthcare services, unaccountability in DACDF funds, and mismanagement of surface rents, warning that such acts are unacceptable and punishable under the law.
ACC Prevention Officer, Abiebatu Abu-Mattia, explained her department’s role in identifying institutional risks and systemic gaps that could lead to corruption. She emphasized the importance of workplace ethics in guiding public officers to make sound decisions and urged traditional leaders to uphold high ethical standards to build trust and maintain peace in their communities. She encouraged them to serve as whistleblowers, assuring confidentiality, and provided the ACC’s toll-free lines: 077-985-985, 077-986-986, and 8515.
Paramount Chief Alhaji Sandy Fowai, who also serves as Chairman of the Council of Paramount Chiefs, commended the ACC’s work and acknowledged its authority. He noted that while his chiefdom receives limited DACDF allocations, a proposal for development projects is before the Ministry of Mines. He pledged the chiefdom’s full support in spreading anti-corruption messages and fostering integrity in governance.
